Richard makes some interesting observations here about true and perceived need by using a great illustration of how Nike excelled in the sports shoe market.

Richard suggests, and I agree, that although we know our communities need Jesus they do not realise that fact. He suggests we ask what the perceived need of the community is and look to meet that. Nike perceived the need that people need to belong and used this to take the market and I think Richard is suggesting that we find the perceived need of our community and use this to take the market for Jesus.

I am not sure that I sit comfortably with this position. If Richard is suggesting that we befriend our community and meet these needs out of a sole motivation to see conversions to Christ then I struggle with the integrity of that. In the gospels I do not see a Jesus that serves out of a motivation for people to follow him. I see a man performing miracles that help people and give them a taste of the Kingdom of God. We see many in the gospels receiving the blessings of the Kingdom but choosing not to follow Jesus … and Jesus just continues to bless, and I guess hope!

I guess I am interested in this post because of the places I currently sit, as a pioneer minister, and ‘wait with intent’, being a presence and just waiting to see what God is doing. I hope that I am awake enough to notice and be able to join in. As I sit and observe I do ask myself and God ‘what is the need here’ and wonder how we might meet such a need. My motivation, however, is to show the love of God and allow God to do the rest, rather than look for ways to jump in with Christianity.

As this post is called The Nike Effect part 1, I realise I am jumping the gun a bit in my response as I may totally have the wrong end of the stick of the motivation behind this … and so I look forward to reading the next installment.